Illinois AD search changes timeline

Illinois won't name an athletic director until after the university announces the hiring of a chancellor, which is expected sometime in July, the university confirmed Saturday.

President Michael Hogan told athletic director search committee chair Larry DeBrock that a chancellor is expected to be named in mid-to-late July, so the AD might not be known until August.

"We're going to delay the announcement of the athletic director until after the announcement of the chancellor,'' DeBrock said on WDWS radio Saturday. "That's the natural order of things. It would be out of place to name an AD on July 1, then hire his or her boss two weeks later.''

Athletic director Ron Guenther announced his retirement earlier this month and said he wouldn't work past his contract, which runs through June 30. The school may hire an interim athletic director.

The change in timeline is the latest change on the search for an athletic director. Earlier last week, the university hired Parker Executive Search. The respected search firm is billed as a leader in college athletics. The news the selection of a 10-person search committee and previous plans to not hire a firm.

"It wasn't our intention to hire a search firm,'' DeBrock said Saturday during the radio interview.

The change came after meetings with Hogan. DeBrock also said there's no rules against hiring a candidate from inside the Big Ten.

"I don't think there's any reason for that to be eliminated,'' he said.